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This text message is used to keep the image from rotating in ocr process. Be sure to crop the top .25" off after the ocr process. 45S MAIN HELPER POST OFFICE HELPER, CARBON COUNTY \ UTAH STATE HISTORY 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 3 9222 50002 4653 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations of eligibility for individual properties or districts. See instructions in Guidelines lor Completing National Register Forms (National Register Bulletin 16). Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or by entering the requested Information. If an item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, styles, materials, and areas of significance, enter only the categories and subcategories listed In the instructions. For additional space use continuation sheets (Form 11).900a). Type all entries. 1. Name of Property historic name Helper other names/site number 2. Location Main Post Office N/A 45 South Main street & number ci town state utah Hel code ,ur 3. Classification oo county carron Category of Property Ownership of Property private public-local public-State Di public-Federal Number of Resources within Property Contributing Noncontributing 1 buildings _ _ _ sites _ _ _ structures _ _ _ objects IX] building(s) o district o site o structure o object o Name of related multiple property listing: code not for publication vicinity zip code 84526 1 Historic U_S_ Post Offices jn Utab 1900-1941 _-lotO_Total Number of contributing resources previously listed in the National Register _ .... 1_ _ __ 4. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this Wn'Omination request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opi' ,the pro rty does not meet the National Register criteria. See continuation sheet. 0 D Signature of certifying official /3./?;,p= Date United States Postal Service State or Federal agency and bureau oes not meet the National Register criteria. D See continuation sheet. NO,,! cO(!1m~ing.or o\tler qffic;i.lll Date • a~e H1~Or1~ ~oc1ety ,.. ; JP State or Federal agency and bureau 5. National Park Service Certification I, hereby, certify that this property is: o entered in the National Register. D See continuation sheet. o determined eligible for the National Register. D o determined not eligible for the See continuation sheet. National Register. o removed from the National Register. D other, (explain:) _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Signature of the Keeper Date of Action 6. Function. or Use Historic Functions (enter categories from instructions) u. S . Pos-t Qf fice 7. Description Architectural Classification (enter categories .from' instructions) Neo-Classical Revival Current Functions (enter categories from instructions) U.S. post Office Materials (enter categories from instructions) foundation ~C';:'O:ll;lJlCc:J;.re;:ett;ee~---------walls _ _ _ B_r_lc..:...K_____________ roof other T.ar composition Cast concrete Describe present and historic physical appearance. The Helper Main Post Office is a one-story red brick building on a raised basement platform. The front facade is flat, symmetrical and Classically-proportioned. Five flat-arched bays divide the front facade--two window bays flanking a centered entry bay. Red brick in American bond faces the exterior from grade to a plain cast concrete coping. Cast concrete is also used for window sills and lintels. Flat, fluted pilasters supporting a simple entablature (wood) frame the double-door entry. The building's structure consists of reinforced concrete footings, floors and basement walls, and brick first floor walls supported by steel framing. The roof is flat built-up tar composition. PHYSICAL APPEARANCE The front facade (west) is horizontal in orientation and its five bays are symmetrically-arranged. The centered entry bay contains t~o wooden doors with single glass panels in each. A transom bar with two recessed panels rests atop the doors. Set over the transom bar is a seven-light transom window (horizontally-oriented). The entry doors and transom window are framed by flat, fluted wooden pilasters which support a Simple wooden entablature. Bronze lanterns, affixed to the facade, flank the entry bay. Nine concrete steps and a concrete landing which are flanked by wrought iron balusters provide access to the main entry. Two window bays flank each side of the entry. Framed with flat cast concrete sills and thick cast concrete lintels, the windows consist of eight-over-twelve-light doublehung wooden sash. Slightly recessed brick panels (same bond as rest of wall) lie beneath each of the outside window bays. The building is terminated by a cast concrete coping course. The north facade contains four window bays which are detailed identically to those of the front facade. The spacing between the windows is equal, with a slightly reduced span between the end windows and the building corners. Each Kl See continuation sheet United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number __7__ Page_1_ _ Helper HPO of the windows has a slightly recessed brick panel beneath. Red brick faces the facade which is terminated with a cast stone coping course. With minor exceptions, the south and north facades are identical. In the south facade one of the window bays has been filled with brick (original construction) and one small vertically-oriented window, consisting of two-over-two-light double-hung wooden sash, flanks each side of the brick-filled window. Finally, an entry well which provides access to the basement (covered with a metal roof) is located at the rear corner. The rear facade is faced with red brick and consists of a centered, projecting loading platform with two window bays flanking either side. The windows are detailed identically to those described above. A square brick chimney, which prdjects several feet above the building, occupies the juncture of the loading platform and main building (northern corner). The platform is concrete and enclosed on the north and east sides by red brick walls. A single eight-light casement window occupies the north wall. The south side contains the open loading bay and a single pedestrian door. A flat metal roof with projecting marquee covers the platform. - . - -- -. -- -- - - -- - ------ - ---_._-- o Certifying official has considered the significance of this property in relation to other properties: nationally ~ statewide locally 0 Applicable National Register Criteria Qg A 0 B Q9 C ~0 Criteria Considerations (Exceptions) 0 0 B 0 ~ DOE A Areas of Significance (enter categories from Instructions) Art Politics/Government C D D F G Period of Significance 1900-1941 , .Significant Dates ;:-'1.te .'\c.:.-1937 Const. -1938 Cull}.!fal Affiliation N/A Significant Person N/A Architect/BUilder Louis A. Sinnn, Supervising Architect/Federal Government State significance of property. and Justify criteria. criteria considerations. and areas and periOds of significance noted above_ The Helper Post Of [ice is si9nificant on the state and local levels. As one of only three post offices in the State of Utah that contain public artwork com~issioned by the Treasury Department's Section of Painting anJ Sculpture during the gepre3sion, the buildinu carrie3 a strong association with the federal relief ~rograms o~ chat era. The artwork (lobby mural), which detJicts the ciu:3ty main street of a western town, i~ an example of the A ~ erjcRn Regionalism fostered by the Section during the New Deal. The building itself is locally significant in its ~y~bolism of the f~deral presence and the nassive public works pr09ra~s that were initiateci to aid communities during a period of national econo~ic e~ergency. The Helper Post Office, an unaltered example of a small town single-purpose ?ost office, is identified as a contributing builciing to t~~ Yelpcr CODGerciaJ District which is listed in tLe National Register of !-listoric Places. Both the mural anG building exemplify the link betw?en the federal government and thp. community. According to Dan E. ~urke, in the exhibition catalogue for Utah Art of the Depression (1986), toe public arts programs sponsored by the federal government in ~tah duri~g the Depression were succ~ssful in not only in enriching the lives of Utah citizens but also for layin9 down the first stone in the found~tion of a vital cultural ~ovement. Thp. first of the fe(l~ral progrCl:r 8 , the Pub':'ic HO~l<s of Art Project (PvlAP), functioned fro~ Decembe r 1933 to June J934. Under the direction of the l<1o!l1en's Division of the Utah Civil llQrks Administration ten ~rojects wer~ initially assigned to Utah artiuts. These work s included sculptures, 3ke~ches, easel paintings (,nd r.lurals for the Utah State Capitol IotunJa. IKJ See continuation sheet United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number _.....:;8~ Page .--..,.;l~_ He lpe r l\1PO After the initial projects were completed, several other artists received commissions to execute murals and easel paintings. Following PWAP, arts programs were continued under the Federal Emergency Relief Administration of Utah (FERA) which existed in Utah from April 1, 1934 to July 1, 1935. Administered by Judy F. Lund, tvlenty-two artists produced eightythree art works. These works included easel paintings, ceramic pieces, woodblock prints, sketches, sculptures, posters and the completion of the State Capitol dome murals. The program allowed completion of projects initiated under PWAP, provided additional opportunity for artists to produce their artwork, and continued federal support for the arts until the beginning of the Section of Painting and Sculpture. The Section of Painting and Sculpture (renamed the Section of Fine Arts in 1938) was established by the Treasury Department on October 14, 1934. It was under this program that the Helper mural and murals in the Provo and Beaver post offices were completed. (Note: According to Burke, no Utah artist received a commission under this program. It is most likely, however, that Utah artist Norman Thorpe's mural in the Provo Federal Building was awarded by the Section in a Western states competition. Although Burke attributes the ,,,ork to the WPA Federal Art Project, Karel Yasko, Counsellor for Fine Arts and Historic Preservation for GSA has stated " •.. there were no WPA artworks in federal buildings, including post offices, under the New Deal.) The Section, which was ad ministered in Washington, dealt directly with the artists, and selected them through national and regional design competitions. The Section sought the best decorative art that it could find for designated federal buildings. The intent of the program's administrators was that the work would reflect the themes and styles of the American Scene, with a hope that it would strike a responsive chord in the general public. Although the program is attributed with having fostered an American Regionalism, art critics could never find a coherent body of work that was truly Regionalist or representative of particular sections of the country. The work that was NP8form'~ (NIl United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number _.....;8:::.-_ Page ----:;:2'---_ Helper MPO created did, however, portray the American Scene in the form of localized subject matter. Further, the work resulting from the program tended to pursue an inoffensive middle ground of style and content which was sometimes viewed as producing limp platitudes r~ther than strong statements. This resulted from the requirement for final approval from Washington as well as compliance with local preferences. The stri.fe or dark side of the Depression was not portrayed, but instead the nostalgic and positive events of the American Scene were depicted. The Helper mural, entitled "A Typical Western Town," (5' x 12' over the Postmaster's door) was executed in oil on canvas by Jenne Magafan and installed in April of 1941. The mural design was a prizewinner in the 48-state competition sponsored by the Fine Arts Section of the Federal Works Agency. The winning designs, to be placed in one post office in each of the 48 states, were selected from 1,475 anonymously submitted sketches. According to Maurice Stern, jury chairman, the competition, the largest ever held in the country, made a distinct contribution to American mural art. As indicated by its title, the mural depicts a dusty main street flanked by false-front wooden buildings--post office/general store, saloon, blacksmith shop, and various other buildings--through which ride two men on horseback. The town marshall and blacksmith turn their attention to the riders as a dog nips at the horses hooves. The mural was depicted in the December 4, 1939 issue of Life magazine along with the other winning entries. According to Life: As mural sketches, there are interesting not only in themselves but also as barometers by which the everyday art taste of rural America may be judged. Designed mostly for village post offices, they represent in most cases the collective taste of the citizens of the community, together with the individual taste of the artist. Apparently rural Americans are artistic "stay-athomes" with a preference for paintings that reproduce experiences and scenes and parts of history with which they are familiar. In spirit, many of these sketches are local American epics. United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number _-=-8_ Page_--::.3_ Helper MPO Jenne Magafan was born in Woodstock, New York in October 1916. She studied at the Colorado Springs Fine Art Center, and with Frank Mechau and Peppino Mangravite. She exhibited at the San Francisco Museum of Fine Arts, National Gallery of Art, Museum of Modern Art, Denver Art Museum, National Academy of Design and others. She received several awards for her work including the competition for which she completed the Helper mural. Her other mural v,rork includes West High School in Denver, the Social Security Building in Washington, D.C. and post offices in Glenwood Springs (Co.), Albion (Neb.), and Anson (Tex.). Ms. Magafan died in 1950. Although no post office murals were completed under this program, the vWA Federal Art Project (WPA/FAP) perhaps made the greatest contribution to the body of Utah art. Implemented in mid-1935, the Utah program was sponsored by the Utah State Institute of Fine Arts. Three areas of activity were covered by the program: (l) creation of art i (2) technical research; and (3) art applied to community service and art education. Several hundred works of art including fourteen murals were added to the collections of the State, and various public agencies and municipalities. Sixteen or so artworks also were obtained by the City of Helper from Utah artists under sponsorship of this program. Moreover, a fine arts center was established in Helper on December 29, 1939 under the program. Housed in the newly completed civic auditorium, the center was an immediate success. From a city population of 2,700, the first three weeks of the center's operation attracted 3,017 people. In 1940, the center presented nineteen Utah and national exhibitions which were attended by 28,720 persons. The Helper Post Office is significant under Criterion A for its historic association with the federal government's New Deal public arts programs. The mural is also significant under Criterion C as an integral part of a building that represents a significant type, period, and style of artistic expression. Finally, the building is eligible under Criterion D because of its information potential relating to artistic expression and techniques of the period, and social history of its locality. United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number __8_ Page_4_ _ Helper MPO POLITICS A}ID GOVERNMENT As Helper's first and only federally-constructed post office, the building is locally significant under Criterion A. It represents the link between the federal government and the local community, and functions as both a symbol and as an agency of the federal government. The building fUrther symbolizes the massive public building programs of the 1930s \'lhich were intended to ass ist communi ties du ring a pe r iod of national economic emergency. Indeed, the Post Office was constructed during a period of significant ~VPA-sponsored and other public-sponsored construction in the city. Local newspaper articles carried the news of the new junior high school and school shop, the civic auditorium, the municipal power plant (all WPA projects) and the Janet Street Underpass. Over one-half million dollars in public works projects were underway or near completion in 1936. Finally, the dedication of the Post Office afforded Helper citizens the opportunity to hear the words of their elected officials from Washington: Senator Thomas and Congressman Murdock complimented the citizens for their far-sighted and aggressive attitude in working to improve the community. LOCAL CONTEXT Helper is in Carbon County, the heart of Utah's coal mining district in east central Utah. With an estimated 1984 population of 2,846, Helper has a small retail core which provides services for the local area. Coal mining, agriculture and three electric generating plants provide the base for the local economy. Helper's history is tied to that of the mInIng region in which it is located and the development of the railroad. From humble beginnings Helper would grow to be the "Hub of Carbon County"--the railroad center and trading post for the region's many mines. The first settler in the area was Teancum Pratt, who arrived in 1880 with his two wives Sarah and Annie to prospect the coal veins of Spring Canyon. He eventually owned most of the land in the vicinity of present-day Helper and made the first survey of the town. In 1883 he sold a rightof-way to the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Its new railway United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Shee~ Section number __8_ Page ----:;5"--_ Helper MPO line opened up Carbon County's coal lands and made Helper a center for both mining and railroads. (Helper is in fact the only town in the United States named after a locomotive. A "helper" locomotive was one that was added to help pull a train over a steep mountain grade.) Helper proceeded to grow in a slow and deliberate fashion, in contrast to booming metal mining towns. By the early 1890s the first school was established, a roundhouse, depot, and hotel were built, and a clothing store, grocery store, and three saloons were in operation. The appointment for the first U.s. post office was made on January 7, 1892. A notable characteristic of Helper was its ethnic diversity, which was primarily the result of the railroad's encouragement of immigration. The 1900 census indicated that Helper's population was 385, with 16 nationalities represented. Labor activities were also a vital element of Helper's early history. In 1907 Helper was incorporated; CIVIC pride was sparked and soon Main Street was widened and new residential spaces were laid out and old ones were improved. Helper's growth into a center for the Carbon County coal fields continued as more mines opened in 1908 and 1910. By 1910 Helper's population was 816, which grew to 1,606 in 1920. Helper's steady growth continued even through the 1920s and 1930s, primarily due to a massive building program undertaken in 1927 by Helper Securities, a multi-ethnic corporation. Helper's position as a railroad center also provided some stability during the Great Depression, when coal production declined. The 1930 population of 2,707 grew slightly to 2,843 in 1940 and has remained near that level ever since (the 1950 population was 2,850; the 1960 figure was 2,459). The population declined to a low of 1,964 in 1970 before rising to 2,724 in 1980, primarily due to the national emphasis on coal during the 1970s fuel crisis. The Helper Post Office is on the east side of Main Street at the north end of the business district (Main is the primary commercial street). Extending north of the Post Office are three single-family residences (two - 1914; 1918) The v1PA-constructed Helper Civic Auditor ium (1938, br ick, International Style) lies north of these houses. A city park United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet 6_ Section number _ _ 8_ Page __ Helper r.1PO is adjacent to the south of the Post Office, and the D&RGW Railroad yard is adjacent to the east. Across Main Street to the west are several commercial buildings extending south along Main and single-family residences to their north. The Post Office is within the Helper Commercial District which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Post Office is listed as a contributing structure to the District. LOCAL NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HELPER MAIN POST OFFICE The year 1936 brought good news for Helper. On February 14th the Helper Journal reported that the coal business was booming and 3,000 miners were at work. On March 13th the paper announced that the new junior high school would soon be dedicated and a new $100,000 PWA civic auditorium was being proposed. More progress was reported on April 17th with the news that Helper's post office was advancing to second class status. The paper explained that the post office had fallen to third class in 1933 when stamp sales declined and the return to second class made Helper eligible for a federal building. On June 26th the Helper Journal announced "Helper Assured Federal Building in Murdock Dispatch, Civic Clubs Aid." Congressman Abe Murdock (D) had recently recommended that Helper have a federal building and the Chamber of Commerce and other civic clubs had also been active in seeking the building. "Building Boom Set for Helper" was the news on July 3rd, when the following projects were described: two Pt'lA projects (the civic audi tor ium and a muniCipal pOvler plant), a street underpass project, and the post office (which was projected to cost around $80,000). On July 23ro it was reported that sites were being investigated for the post office; on October 9th it was reported a site was still being sought (two railroad land sites favored by the government had been judged to be too expensive). At the end of 1936 the Helper Journal listed the many projects that would be completed in Helper in 1937 (they totaled approximately $500,000): the civic auditorium (the taxpayers had overwhelmingly approved the fall bond election for it), the underpass project, post office, two new ,v,· ... r"",,, . }>I" ......... . ... ~ United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number _-,8=---- Page _..L-7_ Helper MPO churches, a new depot, and new sewers and asphalt streets (December 23rd article). The new year of 1937 brought continued good news fo r Helper: 3,500 men were employed in the mines (February 5th article), construction of the underpass began (March 12th article), and Helper applied for WPA assistance for the street paving and waterworks projects (March 19th article). On June 11th the Journal reported "Federal .Building Plans Are Rushed"; custody of the po s t office site had been given to Postmaster Eugene Gibson and ground clearing already started. The site cost $8,000 and it was estimated the entire project would cost $90,000. On August 19th it was reported that the request for Federal building construction bids would soon be advertised. The announcement that the contract has been awarded to Newstrom & David of Denver was made by the Journal on October 14th. They had submitted the low bid of $44,850 and planned to immediately commence construction At the end of 1937 the Helper Journal reviewed the town I s great bu.ilding boom (December 30th article). The paper noted that the underpass and auditorium had been completed and predicted that one of the major improvements in 1938 would be the construction of the post office, which was expected to start in February. On February . 10, 1938 the Helper Journal reported "Federal Building Taking Tangible Form"--the excavation was completed, most of the basement concrete poured, and the bricklaying would begin in a few days. An article of April 7th reported that bricklaying would be completed that week and predicted that the building would be completed by July 1st. Other progress continued in June when Helper received a $51 ,000 P~lA grant to improve its municipal water system (June 30th article). On August 11th the paper reported that Helper citizens had approved a $63,000 water bond to fund the rest of the $114,000 project. The Helper Journal of August 25th featured a photograph of the recently completed federal building along with the news "Helper's New Post Office Opens Monday." On October _ forni IO«ICHI (NIl" United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number __ 8_ Page_8 _ _ Helper MPO 20th the paper reported that dedication rites had just been held. Senator Elbert Thomas (0), Congressman Murdock, and Mayor Spratling gave speeches, the Helper High School band played, and 300 people attended the event. Congressman Murdock complimented Helper's citizens for their farsighted and aggressive attitude in working to improve the community, and said "A public building of this kind is a public trust, and is a monument to the community designed to be served by it." The Helper Journal was able to report more good news for the community when, on June 29, 1939, it announced "Helper Post Office To Get Mural, Only One In Utah." The Section of Fine Arts had announced a competition for 48 murals, one for a post office in each state. It was noted that artists could compete for a mural depending on his knowledge and interest in the region in which the post office was located. Helper's mural was to be 5' x 12' and cost a maximum of $740. Mural painters throughout the area were invited to submit examples of their work~ (Additional cultural development occurred in Helper in 1939 when the Helper Community Art Gallery was established with the aid of the WPA. The Gallery, a branch of the Utah State Art Center of Salt Lake City, held monthly exhibitions of promising and established Utah artists.) On April 24, 1941 the Journal published a photo of the new mural along with the caption "Special Painting for Helper Post Office Hung f1onday." Entitled "A Typical Western Town," the painting was executed by Jenne Magafan of Colorado Springs. The article commented "It is believed by the artist that the painting will collect very little dirt and dust, even in as smokey community as this. But if it does, she pointed out, it may be cleaned by running a loaf of soft white bread (sliced bread won't do) over the surface." 9 .. Major Bibliographical References 1. Notariarmi, Philip F., Carron County: Eastern Utah's Industrialized Island, Salt Lake City, UT: utah State Historical SOciety, 1981. 2. Epperson, Terrence W., "Helper Corrmercial District" (National Register Nomination), February 1978. 3. Falk, Peter H., Who Was Who In Arrerican Art, Madison, Conn: Soundview Press, 1985. 4. The Helper JOl.ll11al, various articles 1935-41. 5. Original Floor Plans, 1937. Previous documentation on file (NPS): D preliminary determinatidnof individual listing D See continuation sheet (36 has been requested Qg previously listed in the National Register D D D D CFR 67) ": previously determined eligible by the National Register designated a National Historic Landmark recorded by Historic American Buildings SuNey# _________________________ recorded by Historic American Engineering Record #,___________________________ Primary location of additional data: D State historic preseNation office o Other State agency ~ Federal agency o Local government o University o Other Specify repository: USPS Facilities Service Center San Bruno, CA 94099-0330 10. Geographical Data Acreageofproperty~0~.~5~5~a~c~r~e~s~________________________________________________ UTM References A lhlJ 151112 15 16 10 I lLJJ9 12 17 18 10 I Zone Easting Northing C ~ I I I I I I I Li.--,-I-1.1 -1...1......I--1.-J Quadrangle nane: Helper Quadrangle scale: 1:24,000 BLU I I Zone D~ D I I I I I 111I I I I I I Easting Northing See continuation sheet Verbal Boundary Description Beginning 617.2 feet South and 294 feet West of the Northeast comer of Section 24, 'Ibwnship 13 South, Range 9 East, Salt lake Meridian, South 129.8 feet, East 5 feet, South 15.2 feet, East 160 feet, North 145 feet, West 165 feet to beginning. [il See continuation sheet Boundary Justification The roundary includes all of the property originally purchased by the federal government for the post office site. o See continuation sheet 11. Form Prepared By name/title Ii. J. "JJ.IIt":KQlva, Project Manager; Steve Franks, Research Ass; stant organization In stj tute for Urban & Toca 1 Stlld j es date August 1988 street & number West 705 ] st Avenlle telephone [phone] city or town --'~,::LtX>tLLk~!"IC1.nUle~--------------------------- state WA zip code 99204 NPS Form le-900-, OMB No_ 1 01 4 -0018 EKp i r e s 10 - 31 - 87 (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form Continuation sheet Item number Helper MPO r··_··_··-.. _ .. - ~ 10 .. - . . - .. - Page .. _ .. - .. j 1 ! 145' / I I ;/ Lf) '-.D r-l '-.D ' r-l' I I '-.D Lf) 60' 129.8' • ,!.5, .. ~ L"-"-"-'·-"~~'·-"-J-·l MAIN STREET Q 30' '--- " - - - - ' - - - - I ' '------- HISTORIC U.s. POST OFFICES IN UTAH 1900-1941 HELPER MAIN POST OFFICr UTJ REFEP.E"'JCF r I 12/512560/4392780 ',' , .1 . ( , United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number Photos Page ___1__ Helper MPO The following information is the same for all the photographs listed: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Helper MPO Helper, Utah Jim Kolva August 1986 Negatives on file at USPS Facilities Service Center, San Bruno, CA. Photo No. 1 (negative #15) 6. View to southeast Photo No. 2 (negative 114) 6. View to east Photo No.3 (negative 117) 6. View to northeast Photo No. 4 (negative #22) 6. Mural, south end of lobby iIelper MPO, Helper, UT Jim r(olva August 1986 Negative #15, on file at USPS Facilities Service Center, San Bruno, CA. View to southeast 'lii••• I' iIelper MPO, Helper, UT Jim Kolva August 1986 Negative #14, on file at USPS Facilities Service Center, San Bruno, CA View to east ·.-_.- . . .. , ..~-'. Helper HPO, Helper, UT Jim Kolva Augus·t 1986 Negative #17, on file at USPS Facilities Service Center, San Bruno, CA View to northeast ~':;~-'\~ ~ - . '. . -:.. ... "A Typical t~estern Town" Helper MPO, Helper, UT Jenne Magafan (1941) Jim Kolva August 1986 ~egative #22, on file at USPS Facilities Service Center, San Bruno, CA. Mural south end of lobby 'E~ ItAIIPSN!RE ",Ulbo'"t''''''' (OUllt)' 1(.111c...,t--W'1 MoUlt 2 Old Hou .. !JI . M..".. 12/01/19 "002056 PkClwrt .. - Hll tOIl HoUI' " hnhr ltd. nor'l ..C' 12/01/1t 19002051 NEW J[_SEY "P' County "J,. n.lN".U.,llll Hi.tor-,e Dj,ltrlct Roug"ly " ..... 11.1110 Rd. i t Co. _t o 557 " ...".II'llIt 11 /l1'U 19002013 NEW YORK Oute""s County Rock lUg. IithlllfDfC" Town liRA Rovghly Rcklr'C ~ook Rd .• H'99,rt)' Hill ltd •••tld T",y Or. RillntOICk '1lCU'Il ty 11/'21119 19002010 IIoMo, (o""t)' 0"",. "oth,,. 01 Sorrows Ro".n (''Cholle Church Co"phw 1715 lotI. R•. G''''t 11/JOII9 19002001 SuHolk Count)' $", t .... -lIIout'1t1' Moull 350 S. 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County Rhinebeck Town ADDITIONAL MIlA OOCUMENT~TION 11/28/89 This text message is used to keep the image from rotating in ocr process. Be sure to crop the top .25" off after the ocr process. PHOTOGRAPHS & SLIDES \ \ Helper Post Office. 45 South Main Helper, Carbon County. HE RY ~4dRGENTHAU JR. SECRETARY Of THE. TRE.A SURY J A MES A FAIRLEY POSTMASTER. GENERAL ) LO UIS A SIMO N . SUP E.RV I 51I'1G A RCHIT ECT NEAL A M ELI CK SU PERV U NG ENGINEER. 1-937 Kodachrome SLIDE ( ) t.." LdEIl "-i Ci 7.,. Of ' Kodak Helper Post Office. 45 South Main Helper, Carbon County. ~rM~ 1/5 S. ~ wflt Kodachrome SLIDE ( ) t.." Ldl8 ~ IIv Be ' Kodak Helper Post Office. 45 South Main Helper, Carbon County. Kodachrome SLIDE ( ) t.." LdEII':)!)", 5? ' Kodak usps- UTAH HELPER N\PO PHOTO NO. '--\ USPS - UTAH HELPER MPO PHOTO NO. 1 USPS - UTAH HELPER MPO PHOTO NO.2 USPS - UTAH HELPER tv\PO PHOTO NO.3 This text message is used to keep the image from rotating in ocr process. Be sure to crop the top .25" off after the ocr process. RESEARCH NOTES/MISCELLANEOUS \ \ 't N0. _ CR-07-729 _ _ _ _ __ S Ie Researcher: Date: Utah State Historical Society Historic Preservation Research Office Structure/Site Information Form ~~----------------__-----------------------.ww-'~------------------------------------------------_ 1z o ~. o u:: ~ Z Street Address: Owner Address: 2 Original Owner: w en :J ...... Z o Original Use: Present Use: Q Iil Building Condition: z o o CJ "' Single-Family Multi-Family Public Commercial Construction Date: o Park o Industrial o Agricultural o Excellent o Good o Deteriorated Photography: S Research Sources: z o Z ILl :E o Unaltered o Minor Alterations o Major Alterations Final Register Status: :J o o o November Date of Slides: 1977 Views: Front 0 Side 0 Rear 0 Other c)1. o o o o o o o Abstract of Tille Plat Records Plat Map Tax Card & Photo Building Permit Sewer Permit Sanborn Maps Occupants: o National Landmark o National Register o State Register o o o o o o o Bi bl iog raphical References 0 District 0 Multi-Resource 0 Thematic Date of Photographs: Views: Front 0 Side 0 Rear 0 Other 0 City Directories Biographical Encyclopedias Obituary Index County & City Histories Personal Interviews Newspapers Utah State Historical Society Library o o o o o o o Lot S. Demolition Date: Integrity: o Site o Ruins Significant Contributory Not Contributory Intrusion . 4 1937 o Vacant o Religious o Other Preliminary Evaluation: o o o o BI. T. R. UTM: Tax#: 475 L'Enfant Plaza S.W. Washington D.C. o o o o ~ Plat Name of Structure: Present Owner: U.S. Postal Service o ILl 45 Main Street LDS Church Archives LDS Genealogical Society U of U Library BYU Library USU Library SLC library Other (books. articles. records. interviews. old photographs and maps. etc.): 5 UJ a:: :::> ~ o Architect/Builder: Building Type/Style: Building Materials: Description of physical appearance & significant architectural features: (Include adClltlons. alterations, anCIllary structures. and landscaping " apphcable) UJ ~ :I: o a:: « 6 >. IX: o ~ (/'0 X Statement of Historical Significance: o AbOriginal Americans o Communication o o o Agriculture ArchITecture The Arts o Commerce o o ConservaTIon Education o Exploration/Settlement o Industry o o o Military Mining Minority Groups o Pohtical o Recreation o Religion Science Socio-Humanitarian o Transportation o o One story flat roof red brick post office building. Louis Simon was the project supervising architect, Neal A. ~~lick was the supervising engineer,'and the contractors included Paul M. Newstrom and Harold B. Davis. This building has always served as Helper's post office and remains unaltered. 0i0IB No. 10:14-001' United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form . This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations of eligibility for individual properties or districts. See instructions in Guidelines for Completing National Register Forms (National Register Bulletin 16). Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or by entering the requested information. If an item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, styles, materials, and areas of significance, enter only the categories and subcategories listed in the instructions. For additional space use continuation sheets (Form 10-900a). Type all entries. 1. Name of Property historic name Helper other names/site number 2. Location street & number cit, town state Utah l-ain Ibst Office N!A 45 South I-1ain Hel r code 3. Classification o o Ownership of Property or county carl:on Contributing o o code 1 o o Name of related multiple property listing: Historic U_S_ Post Offices 007 not for publication vicinity zip code 84526 Number of Resources within Property Category of Property [Xl building(s) district Dsite \ structure object private public-local public-State ~ public-Federal N N 1 in Utah 1900-1941 Noncontributing buildings _ _ _ Sites _ _ _ structures _ _ _ objects _~O_Total Number ot contributing resources previously listed in the National Register _ .....J_ _ __ 4. State/Federal Agency Certification As the deSignated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this request for determination ot eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property meets does not meet the National Register criteria. See continuation sheet. o nomination 0 0 0 0 Date Signature of certifying official State or Federal agency and bureau oes not meet the National Register criteria. 0 See continuation sheet. /\/(/1./ /. Date Siooahl~ . §'tco!flmenting or other Qffic;i.al . Utan a~e tl1storl~ ~oclety JR State or Federal agency and bureau 5. National Park Service Certification I, hereby, certify that this property is: o entered in the National Register. o See continuation sheet. o determined eligible tor the National Register. 0 See continuation sheet. o determined not eligible for the oo National Register. removed from the National Register. other, (explain:) _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Signature 01 the Keeper Date 0' Action 6. Function or Use Historic Functions (enter categories trom instructions) U.S. Post. Office 7. Description Architectural Classification (enter categories Jrom' instructions) Neo-Classical Revival Current Functions (enter categories from instructions) U. S. Post Off; ce Materials (enter categories from instructions) foundation -4Co.,g;cac;:c~~~tee----------walls _ _ _B_fr_~_c_K_____________ roof other 'I'aJ; composition Cast concrete Describe present and historic physical appearance. The Helper Main Post Office is a one-story red brick building on a raised basement platform. The front facade is flat, symmetrical and Classically-proportioned. Five flat-arched bays divide the front facade--two window bays flanking a centered entry bay. Red brick in American bond faces the exterior from grade to a plain cast concrete coping. Cast concrete is also used for window sills and lintels. Flat, fluted pilasters supporting a simple entablature (wood) frame the double-door entry. The building's structure consists of reinforced concrete footings, floors and basement walls, and brick first floor walls supported by steel framing. The roof is flat built-up tar composition. PHYSICAL APPEARANCE The front facade (\~est) is horizontal in orientation and its five bays are symmetrically-arranged. The centered entry bay contains two wooden doors with single glass panels in each. A transom bar with two recessed panels rests atop the doors. Set over the transom bar is a seven-light transom window (horizontally-oriented). The entry doors and transom window are framed by flat, fluted wooden pilasters which support a simple wooden entablature. Bronze lanterns, affixed to the facade, flank the entry bay. Nine concrete steps and a concrete landing which are flanked by wrought iron balusters provide access to the main entry. Two window bays flank each side of the entry. Framed with flat cast concrete sills and thick cast concrete lintels, the windows consist of eight-over-twelve-light doublehung wooden sash. Slightly recessed brick panels (same bond as rest of wall) lie beneath each of the outside window bays. The building is terminated by a cast concrete coping course. The north facade contains four window bays which are detailed identically to those of the front facade. The spacing between the windows is equal, with a slightly reduced span between the end windows and the building corners. Each IKJ See continuation sheet 8. "Statement of Significance Certifying official has considered the significance of this property in relation to other properties: ~. ~ ... [J.nation~lIy _ . .. [ZJstatewide locally o Applicable National Register Criteria [!] A 0 B Q9 C Criteria Considerations (Exceptions) 0 0 B 0 cOO 0 A Areas of Significance (enter categories from instructions) Art Politics/Government E I ~. _. ,_" 0 FOG Significant Dates Period of Significance Site Acq.-1937 Const.-I938 1900-1941 N;A N/A l ~0 Cult~ral Significant Person . i: ' . .-: Affiliation Architect/Builder u>uis A. Sinon, Supervising Architect/- Federal Governrrent State significance of property, and justify criteria, criteria considerations. and areas and periods of significance noted above. The Helper Post Office is significant on the state and local levels. As one of only three post offices in the state of Utah that contain public artwork commissioned by the Treasury Department's Section of painting and Sculpture during the Depression, the building carries a strong association with the federal relief programs of that era. The artwork (lobby mural), which depicts the dusty main street of a western town, is an example of the American Regionalism fostered by the Section during the New Deal. The building itself is locally significant in its symbolism of the federal presence and the massive public works programs that were initiated to aid communities during a period of national economic emergency. The Helper Post Office, an unaltered example of a small town single-purpose post office, is identified as a contributing building to the Helper Commercial District which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Both the mural and building exemplify the link between the federal government and the community. According to Dan E. Burke, in the exhibition catalogue for Utah Art of the Depression (1986), the public arts programs sponsored by the federal government in Utah during the Depression were successful in not only in enriching .the lives of Utah citizens but also for laying down the first stone in the foundation of a vital cultural movement. The first of the federal programs, the Public Horks of Art Project (PWAP), functioned from December 1933 to June 1934. Under the direction of the Women's Division of the Utah Civil Works Administration ten projects were initially assigned to Utah artists. These works included sculptures, sketches, easel paintings and murals for the Utah State Capitol rotunda. 12[] See continuation sheet 9. Major Bibliographical References 1. 2. Notarianni, Philip F., carron County: Eastern Utah I s Industrialized Island, Salt Lake City, UT: Utah State Historical Society, 1981. Epperson, Terrence W., "Helper Ccmnercial District" (National Register February 1978. l~ation), 3. Falk, Peter H., Who Was Wh:::> In Arrerican Art, Madison, Conn: Soundview Press, 1985. 4. The Helper Journ.al, various articles 1935-41. 5. Original Floor Plans, 1937. Previous documentation on file (NPS): preliminary determinatidn 'of individual listing (36 CFR 67) has been requested previously listed in the National Register previously determined eligible by the National Register designated a National Historic Landmark recorded by Historic American Buildings SuNey# ________________________________ D em D D D D recorded by Historic American Engineering Record #__________________________ D See continuation sheet o Primary location of additional data: State historic preseNation office Other State agency I[] Federal agency Local government University Other Specify repository: o o o o USPS Facilities Service Center San Bruno, CA 94099-0330 10. Geographical Data Acreage of property ~0..!..=.5=.5...:a~c~r~e~s=___________________________________________ UTM References A ~ 15 11 12 15 16 ,0 Zone Easting cLU 1 1 I I I I 14 13 19 12 17 18 10 , Northing 1 '1 I 1 I Quadrangle narre: Helper Quadrangle scale: 1: 24 ,000 I I I 1 BLU 1 1 I 1 1 I 1 I oLU 1 1 I 1 1 I I I Zone Easting Northing o See continuation sheet Verbal Boundary Description Beginning 617.2 feet South and 294 feet West of the Northeast comer of Section 24, 'Ibwnship 13 South, Range 9 East, Salt lake Meridian, South 129.8 feet, East 5 feet, South 15.2 feet, East 160 feet, North 145 feet, west 165 feet to beginning. [Xl See continuation sheet Boundary Justification The roundary includes all of the property originally purchased by the federal government for the post office site. o See continuation sheet 11. Form Prepared By name/title H. J. "Jl.r(l~oiva, Proj ect tJ'enager- Steve Franks, Research Assistant organization Instjblte for Urban & Toea] Stl1dies date Allgust 1988 street & number l:\Test 705 ] st AVenl1e telephone [phone] city or town __~S.>±j,:O......"k..c;au...nu;:e'-------------------------- state WA zip code 99204 't N - CR-07-729 ____ S leo. Researcher: Date: Utah State Historical Society Historic Preservation Research Office Structure/Site Information Form 1z o ~ () u::: i= zw C 2 w (I) :J ...... Z o i= is z o () ...... w Street Address: 45 Main Street Owner Address: 475 L'Enfant Plaza S.W. Original Owner: .original Use: Present Use: o Single-Family o Multi-Family o Public o Commercial o Park o Industrial o Agricultural Building Condition: 3 Preliminary Evaluation: (I) S (I) 4 o Excellent o Good o Deteriorated o o o o o S z w :E :J () o c 1937 Occupants: Integrity: o Site o Ruins o Unaltered o Minor Alterations o Major Alterations Final Register Status: o National Landmark o National Register o State Register November Date of SI ides: 1977 Views: Front 0 Side 0 Rear 0 Other 01 0 District 0 Multi-Resource 0 Thematic Date of Photographs: Views: Front 0 Side 0 Rear 0 Other 0 Research Sources: o o o o o o o Abstract of Title Plat Records Plat Map Tax Card & Photo Building Permit Sewer Permit Sanborn Maps o o o o o o o Bi bl iog raph ical References City Directories Biographical Encyclopedias Obituary Index County & City Histories Personal Interviews Newspapers Utah State Historical Society Library o o o o o o o Lot S. Demolition Date: o Vacant o Religious o Other Significant Contributory Not Contributory Intrusion Photography: z Washington D.C. Construction Date: BI. T. R. UTM: Tax#: Name of Structure: Present Owner: u.S. Postal Service o0( :J Plat LDS Church Archives LDS Genealogical Society U of U Library BYU Library USU Library SLC Library Other (books, articles, records, interviews, old photographs and maps, etc.): ~ __ 5 w a: ::J I() Architect/Bui Ider: Building Type/Style: Building Materials: Description of physical appearance & significant architectural features: (Include additions, alterations, ancillary structures, and landscaping if applicable) w l- i: () a: « 6 > a: o l- I/) i: Statement of Historical Significance: o o o o o Aboriginal Americans Agriculture Architecture The Arts Commerce o o o o o Communication Conservation Education Exploration/Settlement Industry o o o o o Military Mining Minority Groups Political Recreation o o o o Religion Science Socio-Humanitarian Transportation One story flat roof red brick post office building. Louis Simon was the project supervising architect, Neal A. ~~lick was the supervising engineer, and the contractors included Paul M. Newstrom and Harold B. Davis. This building has always served as Helper's post office and remains unaltered. Helper Post Office This one story post office building, constructed under the auspices of the Works Progress Administration, is a good example of the stylistic variety found in public works projects during the 1930s . Though the building has the flat roof nonnally encounted in the PWA Moderne style, the ba s ic design reflects Colonial Revival thinking . The walls are red brick and there are 8 over 12 light sash windows. The building is sy~netrically arranged and there are light colored cost concrete lintels over the windows. The main entrance has a paneled door and a transom. There is a dentiled cornice that is supported by stylized plasters. The building remains in good condition and there have been no major alterations of the historic fabric. This building is part of the Utah Public WOI"ks Adrninistr'ation (PWA) and Works Progress Administration (WPA) Buildings Thematic Nomination and is significant because it helps document the impact of New Deal programs in Utah, which was one of the states that the Great Depression of the 1930s most severely affected. In 1933 Utah had an unemployment rate of 63 percent, the fourth highest in the country, and for the period 1932-1940 Utah's unemployment rate averaged 25 percent. Because the depression hit Utah so hard, feder'al programs were extens i ve in the state. Overall, p(~r capita federal spending in Utah during the 1930s was 9th among the 48 states, and the percentage of workers on federal work projects was far above the national average. Building programs were of great importance. During the 1930s virtually every public building constructed in Utah, including county courthol~se s , d ty halls, fi re stations, national guard armor' i(~s, publ ic s chool buildings, and a variety of others, were built under federal programs by one of several agencies, including the Civil Works Admini s tration (CWA), the Fed(~ral Emergency r-?elief Administr'ation (FERA), the I\lational Youth Administration (NYA), the Works Progress Administration (WPA), or the Public Works Administration (PWA), and almost without exception none of the buildings would have been built when they were without the assistance of the federal govenlllwnt, The Helper Post Office was one of 226 buildings constructed in Utah during the 1930s and early 1940s under the Works Progress Administration and other New Deal programs. Of those 226 building, 130 are still standing and eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places, Of the 226, 3 were post offices. All 3 of them are still standing, In Carbon County a total of 10 buildings were constructed, of which 6 are still standing. The Helper Post Office was built between the fall of 1937 and the fall of 1938 as a Public Works Administration (PWA) project at a cost of $44,850. The architect was Louis A. Simon who was not a Utah architect, while the general contractor was Newstrom-Davis of Denver, Colorado. Utah State Historical Society Property Type: Site No. ________ Historic Preservation Research Office Structure/Site Information Form 1 z o f= u u::: f= z « w c Street Address: 11/1~L 4:; <;;0.41tr111;)#'; /1/;r1r ct 45" J-h Name of Structure: UTM: T. Helper Post Office u.s. Present Owner: Government S. t:; 5"{J (Vz,e<v Owner Address: Tax N: Effective Age: Kind of Building: Year Built (Tax Record): Legal Description ?-- 4 1/ /31 rf-' I ~5 I A- q ~ J ~17.g fil? ~ 29J){.1tJvf__ NE ~.5.t.t:.Z~ ___ _ T135/ ~qeJ 5~#J; 5 12t[,'Bft/ E -;;(1; S/5,~lti 'I (~ E IbO{}; IV 14~ ,55 2 w (/) ::::) A¢1. II' u I~~ {f b; ~.I' _ _ •·• ..., ..-.-_- ....... i _ •• governmentttL Original Use: _ _ .. ...... ~ governmen t ~£ Present Use: (/) ::::) I- « l- (/) Building Condition: P Excellent o o 3 z o f= « I- Z w :::E ::::) u oc o o Good Site rp Abstract of Title Plat Recordsl Map Tax Card & Photo P Building Permit Cf Sewer Permit o r;t o o o o Unaltered Minor Alterations Major Alterations Date of Slides: Research Sources: '1 Final Register Status: o Deteriorated Views: D/ront rt Preliminary Evaluation: ¢ Ruins Photography: Integrity: ¢ f'l o o {1 J3 P Sidefo Rear o Significant 0 Contributory Not of the Historic Period Not Contributory Slide No_: Sanborn Maps c:t'Newspapers City Directories c;;( Utah State Historical Society Biographical Encyclopedias Obiturary Index if County & City Histories Bi bl iog raphical References (books, articles, records, o o o 0 National Register 0 Multi-Resource State Register 0 Thematic Date of Photographs: Views: Dffront 0 Other National Landmark Personal Interviews LDS Church Archives LDS Genealogical Society 6 (9' fJ/ District Photo No_: Side/[] Rear 0 Other o o o o o U of U Library BYU Library USU Library SLC Library Other interviews, old photographs and maps, etc.): Helper Journal (Helper, Utah), 1937-38. Researcher: Date: Street Address: 4 Architect! Builder: Site No: Louis A. SimonJII Building Materials: Building Type/Style: Description of physical appearance & significant architectural features : (Includ e additions , alterations. anc illary structures, and landscaping if appli cable) 5 Statement of Historical SignifIcance: (S)-t'llv dqrJ 61:::if>)-' Construction Date: HeIner Post Office was one of 226 buildings constructed in utah during the 1930s and early 1940s under the Works Progre~s Administration and other New Deal programs. One hunoren thirty ~ of those 226 buildinqs are still standing and eligible for nomintion to the national Reqister of Historic Places. Of the 226, 3 were post offices .tl/(;5 of them are still standina. In Carbon County, a total of /D buildings were constructen, of which (0 are still standina.;I r The HeIner Post office was!1lH~c.fween the fall of 1937 and the fall of 1938 as a Public Works Adminstration (PWA) project at a cost of $4~,850. The ~~bxhHbxbxbwbsb~bxb architect was Louis A.. Simon, who was not a ntah architect, while the general contractor was Newstrom-Davis, of Denver, Colorado. ~he 1937 38 S::OTT~" '.';'T"'ESO~ GOVE<lNO" ·Division of State History (UTAHS'ATEHISTOR;cALSOCIETY) . September 26, 1984 s;"';eOF U":.... .. E~';()"' ~C OE 'i . E~C~.J:!.IT "'ELVIN T SMITH.OIRa:TCA 3OORtOGAANOE SALT LAKE CITY. UTAH&UOt.l182 TEt..EPHONE 6011SJ3.S1SS Ms. Edna Romano 105 West Second North Helper, Utah 84526 . . . ~ . .,t..~ . ~ . . Dear Ms. Romano.: ,. EnClosed ple~se find the completed historical documentation of the Helper Civic Auditorium, 19 ·South Main; Helper Junior High School, 145 South Uintah; Helper Junior High School Shop, 145 Soutn Uintah; and ·Hel per Post Offjce. 45 South Main, all located in Helper Utah, which is scheduled to be considered for nomi nation to the National Register of Historic Places by the State Review · Committee at its December 7, 1984 meeting. In keeping with the established procedures for nominating properties within the jurisdiction of a certified local government, this nomination is being submitted to the local historic pteservation ·conuni.ssion and the ·chief elected official (mayor or "county . commission chairman) . for your review and comment. Please submit your report . and recommendation to the State HistoricPreservatio~ Officer before the Review ConnnittE!eMeeting. If you have questions regarding this 533-6017. " p;-c~f.:dvr~ tJlaase contact our office at Sincerely, l(u:r A. Kent Powell Deputy State Hi storic Preservati on Officer cc: Francis Cunningham Enclosure AKP:mb $!al'!Hislory 80ard: llIa'me K H,o!on . ~:;:t..RT·.'e~! ':= =~·~~ ·.:~~r' :."C Mil'on C A!;r"ms, Chairman • Thorna5G ':' : <;,a n::~r • PhII!ipA Sulle" • J E1eonDo,man • Efi:a~lhGr i rr'lh • Dean I Mav • D,,'I'<I S Monsen • w,wam D Owens • He:en Z PaoaOll..o!as · • Ar.ar.a A. Yan~ EVALUATION FOR HISTORIC GENF.RAL FILES (enter date in blanks and check disposition) Preliminary evaluation made Encoded 3- 2-- 3 -</7 Added to county list Added to yearly record SIGNIFICANCE TYPE: Associated Historic Person Associated Historic Event ~ Associated Historic Theme Sig. Builder/Architect -)C" Other l\ ~~ ~Sl:n fot' Significance (-'- AcI- ~ AI:(,fo~f:<m: l-lajor Ver,wl ishcd Hone ~X Minor CONDITION: Excellent .1... Good Fair Demolished . Potentially Eligible __ Non-contributory EVAL~~TION: ~ Significant Significant Significant Significant At'chco lOGY Style Plan/Type Construction Type Material Type Reconstl'ucLed Excavated Deteriorated Ruins Unknovm Site Unknown No Evaluation (no photograph) Out of Period COMMENTS (include any relevant information to explain evaluation) /Jr~. ~-i~~. Evaluator: Date: U.s. POSTAL SERVice Historic, Architectural & Archeological Significance Survey 1. Generallnronnation lb. Historic/Original Name Helper Post Office :a. Facility NJ.me Helper Main Post Office c. Filu.nce/Subloc. No. d. Site Size (Sq. Fr.) e. Lot. Block r. Property Addrcn (Include cDunry .t ZIP code) g. Building Size (Sq. Ft.) h. Building Size (Dimensions) 23,850 493570GOl 1+5 South Main Helper, Carbon County, ur 6,154 56' X 60' i. Is Buildinn Open to Public? 84526 Yes j. Addres3 of Offico with Building Records (Nam~ and addTess of field offl&~. rl:gion, ere. with official file.) USPS - Salt Lake City Division P.O. Box 27117; Salt Lake City, N.A. ur 84127 k. Orig1fl~ Uso of the BuildinJ Post Office I. Prescnt Use Post Office 2. Property Appearance .1. Desmption of General Area (Describe neighborhood, historic district, lar.d use &: direct or indir«t effect upon other building of historic interest. If more tptlCe is needtd. attach addition.al shutt.) Helper is i n Carbon County, the heart of Utah's coal wining district in east central Utah. With an estirrated 1984 population of 2,846, Helper has a s rrall retail core which provides services for the lo c al a rea. Coal rrining, agriculture and three electric generating plants provide the base for the local econorry •••. b. General Condition of Property (Site and Building) The building and grounds a re in good condition and both are well-rraintained. c:.. Description of Buildirul Material {RoofI, walb, foundation, interior features. floor and ceiling, etc.} The Helper Main Post Office is a one story red brick building which rests upon a raised baserrent platforrr. The front elevation is flat v sYITrretrical and Classicallyproportioned. Five bays divide t he front f ac ad e--two window bays flanking •.• 4. DeJcriptioD of Floorplan (Attach drawing: if aVail4ble.) Approach (site) and first floor plans ar e a ttached. No baserrent plan is available . The ~a serrent consis t s of the boiler roorr and several stor a ge [OOITS. A portion of the baserrent is unfinished. ~~~~~----------------~----~------~--~-----------------------------------------~ e. Oe$cription of unlUUal or unique subterranean fea!ure~ (Basement. tunnels, 'auitJ, shelten. etc.) The building has a parti a l baseIT e nt. There a r c no known unu s ual or unique subterr a ne a n features a s s ociat ed wit h the building. I b. Date Construction Began LDat.~ I 1937 ,l.--. f. OritPnal Builder {NtHne & Biographical Datil} Federal Government Ot N.A. Federal Government fJiogmphicaJ Data) h. Other Significant Participants (Name:, relation to buildinz, biolrrlpliic41 dsztlJ) Louis A. Simon, Supervising Architect Department of the Treasury i. Rcs1orution Architect d. Date Rcstored/Reno\'ated 1938 e.. O~ Owner (Name d Biof"lphicrzl/Ata) a. OriginAl Architect (Name d I c. Date Building Completed 1938 Designcz{i/ building has been le1tored/m'loVQud} Henry Morgenthau, Jr. , Sec of the Treasury James A. Farley, Postmaster General Neal A. Melick, SU)2ervising Engineer Identify type, period, method of construction, &It~ti~ value, siznif'u:ant and disting>Juhable entity (Set National Registu crirerl4, 36 CFR 60.4, Oiteri:I /01 EvlZluction). Section 2c includes a description of the construction, building rraterials, and architectural detailing of the Helper Ilain Post Office. 'l'he design is typical of a nurr-ber of sIrall 20s t offices constructed in Utah, the Northwest, and the nation during the Depression era (an identical building was constructed in Kellogg, Idaho in 1938). The building represents the first federally constructed post office in Helper, and is patterned after standardized plans developed by the Depar:trrent .•. S. Historical Significance Identify the broad patterns of American history (National, staU or loeallevel) or historic penons u<ith whom the property is associated. (See National Regist!!? Criteria.) The Helper Main Post Office is a legacy of the Depression era of the federal building prograrr. The construction of public buildings during the Depression era as well as the public art discussed above, represents the use of public building prograrrs to aid local econorries through a period of national econorric errergency. Public building during this period ••• 6. Conclusion and Recommendation Should this property be nominated to the National Register? Give a Ill] Yes 0 No statement to support your recommendation. The Helper Post Office is an.unaltered exarrple of a sITall town single-purpose post office. The building is one of several Depression era projects constructed in Helper during the rrid- to late-1930s. It is also included in a survey •.• Phutog;aphs of Property (No Polaroid Prints) Attach Photo Showing Front View Attach Photo Showing Street View to the Right PS Form 4902.0ct 1981 (PUR" J) Photograph of Prcperty (No Polaroid Prints) r--------------------------. Attach Photo Showing Street View to the Left Attach additional photographs of other signitlcant featu.res here. Use a Separ:iie sheet jf necessary. REAR FACADE PS Form 4902. Oc~ . 1981 fPo~ 4/ ----------- --- - - ----.--- . - - - ------------------~ MURAL AT SOUTH END OF LOBBY "A TYPICAL WESTERN TOWN" JENNE MAGAFAN ( 1941) CONTINUATION SHEETS 2a. Descrintion of Gener al Ar ea .•. Helper's history i s tied to that of the rr ining region in which it is locat ed a nd the developrrent of the railroad. Fro rr hurrble begin ning s Helper would grow to be the "Hub of Carbon County"--the ra i lroad center and trading post for the region's ITany rr ines . The f i rst settler in the area was Tean curr Pratt, who a r ri ve d in 1 880 with his two wives Sarah and An n ie to prospec t the c oa l ve i ns of Spring Canyon. He e ventually owned ITo s t of the land i n the vi cin ity of present-d ay Helper and rrade the f i rs t survey of the to wn . In 1883 he sold a right-of-way to the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Its new railway line opene d up Carbon County's coal lands and ITade --1" f r 'OO_£"! j- 1 • • . 1 (R ·1 • • LeIper a cen\...(;-;r.:o IT.:!..l'llng an a,ral..roa cJs . =.e_per IS In fact the only town in the Uni ted St at es naIT ed after a locorrotive. A "hel per " locorroti ve was on e that was added to help l.)ul l a train OVE.'I (} steeE> lco untain gr ad e.) J... ~ Helpe r pr oceeded to grow i n a slow and de li berat e fashion, in con tr ast to boorr ing rretal rrinin g t owns. By the early 1890s th e first school was established, a roundhouse, depot, and hotel were built, a nd a clothing s tor e , grocery store, and three saloons were in operation. The appointrrent for the fir st U.S. post office was rrade on January 7, 1892. A notable characteristic of He lper was its ethni c diversity, which wa s prirrarily the result of the railr oad ' s encouragerr ent o f irrrrigration. The 1900 census indic ated that Helper's po p ulation was 385, with 16 nationalit ie s represented. Labor activities were also a vital elerrent of Helper's early history. In 1907 Helper's townsi te was regularly orga nized and incorporated; civic pride was sparked and soon Main Street was widened and new residen tia l spa ces were laid out and old ones were irrpr ove d. Helper' s g r owth into a cente r for the Carbon County coal fields continued as rrore rr ines opened in 1908 a nd 1910. By 1910 Helper ' s populat ion was 816, wh ich gre w t o 1,606 in 1920. In IS 17 He l per ' s sta tus cha nge d frorr a town to a third clas s cit y . Helper's steady growth continued even through the 19205 and 1930s, prirrarily due to a rrassiv e build i ng p rograrr undertaken in 1927 by Helper Se c urities, a ITulti-ethnic corporation. Helper' s position as a ra ilroad center a lso provided sorre sta bi li t y d uring th e Gr eat Depression, when coa l production dec lined. The 1 930 popu lation of 2 ,707 grew s l i ghtly t o 2,843 in 19 40 em,) hC:l S C:'Fi';}.ne(l nea r t11ai.:. l evel ever since (t he 1950 popul ation waG 2, 8 50 a nd the 1960 fi g u re was 2 , 459). The population declin e d to a low of 1,964 in 197 0 be for e r i s i n 9 to 2, 72<1 in 1 980 , P r i If a r i 1 Y (1 L1 e to t h e national err p ha sis on coal du r i ng t he 19705 fu e l cr isis . The Helper Post Office is on the east side of Main Street at the north end of the business district (Nain is the prirrary corrrrercial street). Adjacent to the north of the Post Office is a single-farrily residence (1911) witll two ITore single-farrily horres to its north (1914 and 1918). The WPAconstructed Helper Civic Auditoriurr (1938, brick, International Style) lies north of these houses. A city park is adjacent to the south of the Post Office, and the D&RGW Railroad yard is adjacent to the east. Across Main Street to the west are several corrrrercial buildings extending south along Main and single-farrily residences to their north. The Post Office is within the Helper COITrrercial District 1ch is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Post Office is listed as a contributing structure to the District. 2c. Description of Buildinq I'Iatedal ... a centered entry bay. window and entry trirr. Facade detailing is lirrited to The building's structure consists of concrete footings and floors, brick walls and steel f[arring. The exterior is faced froIT grade with red brick in Arrerican bond. Cast stone, cast concrete, and wood are used to provide facade detailing. The roof is flat built-up tar corrposition. The front facade (west) is horizontal in orientation and syrrrretrically-arranged. The centered entry bay contains two wooden doors with single glass panels in each. A transorr bar is a seven-light tranSOIT window (horizontally-oriented). The entry doors and transorr window are frarred by flat, fluted wooden pilasters which support a sirrple wooden entablature. Bronze lanterns, affixed to the facade, are located on either side of the entry. The entry is reached by nine concrete steps and a concrete landing which are flanked by wrought iron balusters. Two window bays flank each side of the entry. Frarred with flat cast stone sills and thick cast concrete lintels, the windows consist of eight-over-twelve-light double-hung wooden sash. Slightly recessed brick panels (sarre bond as rest of wall) are located beneath each of the outside window bays. The building is terrrinated by a cast stone coping course. The north facade contains four window bays which are detailed identically to those of the front fac e. Til(' spacing between the windows is equal; with ~ slightly reCuced span between the end windows and the building corners. Each of the windows has a slightly recessed brick panel beneath. Red brick faces the facade which is terrrinated with a cast stone coping course. With a couple of rrinor exceprlons, the so uth and north facades are identical. In the south facade one of the windoVl bays has been filled in with brick (original con str uction) and one sITall vertically-orient ed wind ow, con s isting of twoover-twa-light double-hung wooden sash, flanks each side of the brick-filled window. Finally, an entry well which provides ac ces s to the baselTen i: (coverec1 wi th a n-eta l roof) is locat e d at the rear corn e r. The rear facad e i s faced wi th red brick a nd consists of a centered, pr ojecting loading p la tfo rrr with t wo window bay s flanking either side. The window s a r e deta il ed iden tically to those des cr ibed above. A squ.are br icl; chirmey f ilhich projects several feet above th e building, is located at the juncture of the loading platforIT and ITain build i ng (northern corner). The platfoIrr is concr ete and enclos ed on the north and east sides by re d brick wal l s . A single eigh t-light caserrent window is lo cated in th e north side. The south side con tai ns t he open load i na bay and a s in g le pede st r ia n door. A fla t rre t a l roof with projecting rrarq uee covers the platfo rrr. 4. Architectur a l Significance .•. of the Treasury. The facad es and space arrangerrents were generally varied slightly frorr the standard to provide an individual char ac ter for the cOITrrun i ty. The Helper Post Office, as rrost of the post offices co ns tructe d during this era, utilized clas sic al syrrrretry and design proportions. The f ac ade is f l a t and essentially s t r ipped of a rchit ec tural detail and can be terrred "Starved Classical." While the building is well-preserved and represents the use of quality rraterials and craftsrranship charact eristic of federal cons truction during the Depres si on era , it is not a pa r ticularly distinguishable entity archit ectura lly. The Post Of f ice was constructed during a p eriod of significant WPA-spons o red and other pub lic- sponso r ed const ruction in the c ity. Local newsp aper articles ca r ri ed th e news of the ne w jun ior high school and sc hool shop , the civic auditoriuIT, the IT unici pa l power plant (a ll NPA pro j ects ) a nd the Jan et Street Underpass . Over one-half rr illion dollars in public wor ks projects were underway or near corrpletion in 1936. The junior high buildings, auditoriuIT and post office are included in a state-wide s urv e y of WPA-con struc ted buildings which are slated for po tential norrinati on to the National Register of Historic Pl a ces. The Post Office c ont ains a rrurRl on t he wall of the south end of the lobby_ Ent.itled "A Typic al Hest:ern Tmlll ;" the ITural (5' x 12') was execut e d in oil on ca nvas by Jenn e Magafan and in s talled in April of 19 4 1. As ind ic ated by its tit le, the ITura l depicts a dusty rrain street f lan ked b y \'loo ~l11'lfi 'ln'C-r)·oct of-fl'ce/o c ~ore -f~l~e-l~ron~ - .:::> _. L _ . c~p .1 _ n ':J u __ .. " Cr1er-al - _ '". , ~, ,j . .. ~. _ _ ,, ~' ~ .~ saloon, blacksrrith shop, and various other buildings--through whi ch ride two ITen on horseback. The town rrarshall and blacksrrith turn their attention to the riders as a dog nips at the horses hooves . Ms. Magaf a n, o f Colorado Springs, was the winner in the st at e anonyrrous corrpetition held by the Fine Arts Section of the Public Buildings Adrrinistration, Feder a l Works Agency. The corrpetition , th e largest ever held in the country, rrade a ~istinc t cont ri . b ution , . to Arrerican rrural art, a ccording to IIaur ice Stern, Jury cna.lrrran. 48 The IT ur a l wa s corrpl eted under the a usp ice s of the Federal Work s Agency Section of Fine Arts. Federal sponsorship of visual arts prograrrs began in 1933 when President Roosevelt autho r ized the developrrent of the Public Works of Art Project (FlAP). Thi s and subsequ en t prograrrs were int ended to r rov id e work-relief for artists. Aft er the derri s e of the FJAP pro~raIT i n June 1934 1 the Treasury Re lief Art Project (TRA P) was established in July 193 5. The Sec tion of Painting and Sculpture, late r the Section of Fine Arts, was established i n October of 1934 by the Treasury Depa r t rr ent. This was the p rograrr prirrarily respon s ible for rrurals and s culpture found in post of fices throughout the country. Corrrrission::: '.'le re '3. ~'.fcl rded on the basi s of anonyn'ous cOIT'peti t. ions without reference to artists need. In July of 1939, after reorganization of the Executive Branch, the en tir e building pr og rarr of th e Treasury Departrrent a nd the Secti o n were tr ansferred to the new Federal Works Agency. The Section of Fine Arts -Fede ral Works Agency opera ted the prograrr un til June of 1943 when the activi ties of mEr shifted pr i o r i ties. It was und er this prograrr that the Helper rrural and pos t office rrurals in Provo (1942) and Beaver (1943) were COrrL)leted. Th e Section, which was adrrinistered in Washington, de a lt directly with the artists, and s elected art ist s t h roug h national and region al des ign corr petition. The Section sought the best decorative art that it could fin d for des ig nat ed federa l b uildings. The inten t of t h e pro g r~IT ' s a~rrini~ tra ­ to r s was that t he work would r e f lect the therre s and styles of t.fle Arre ri can scene, with a hope that it would strike a responsive chord in the general public. Alt hough the prograrr is a ttri b uted with having fostered an Arre rican Re gionalisIT, art critics could never find a coherent body of wo r k that was truly Regionalist or representative of particu lar sections of the cou n try. The work that was cre ated did, h owever, ?ortray t h e Arr er ican Scene in the fOI IT o f l oca li z ed su b ject IT~ ltte r . Furt,her I tb.e \:j() r lz r e ~3ult:lrlg fr:()!'C t.l"l(~ Flrogr a. n ' ,c~; i:", (~r} (:~ f~ :" :~ \,,', i) L'I ur - sue an inoffen si ve rrid d l e ground of sty l e a nd conte n t which was sorret irre s v iewed as producing l irrp platitudes rath e r than strong staterrents. This resulted froIT th e requirerrent for final (;1.pproval f rOlf \V2fC;h ing ton as 1:71211 as COE";::>1 ianc(=: wi th 10c;;11 p refer e nc es. The s t ri[ (' or dark si(]e of th.2 De press ion was not portrayed, but instead the nostalgic and positive events of the Arrerican Scene were depicted. It should be noted that this work is protected by an 3greerrent, dated October 10; 1975, between the USPS and the National Collection of Fine Arts of the Srrithsonian Institution. This agreerrent is a rrerrorandurr between the two agencies wherein the USPS specifically states that it will be responsible for taking prudent rreasures to rraintain the art in good condition or to find a suitable location of recipient [or such artwork in the event of sale or disposition of the building in which the art is located • .JennE"~ Hagafan was born in (\foodstock 1 l\!eW York in October 1916. She studied at the Colorado Sprin08 Fine Art Center, and with Frank Mechau and Peppi no Mangravite. She exhibited at the San Francisco Museurr of Fine Arts, National Gallery of Art, Museurr of Modern Art, Denver Art Museurr; National Acaderry of Design and others. She received several awards for her work including the cOITpetition for which she corrpleted the Helper rrural. Her other ITural work includes West High School in Denver, the Social Security Building in Washington, D.C. and post offices in Glenwood Springs (Co.), Albion (Neb.), and Anson (Tex.). Ms. Magafan died in 1950. 5. Fistorical Signficance ••• represented a shift in federal spending policy. Construction of public buildings had tapered off with the onset of lAITH Bond carre to a halt dur 1n9 the war. After the war ended, construction of previously authorized building resuITed slowly. No new construction laws were enacted until the Public Buildings Act of 1926. This Act contrasted with the previous orrnibus act which had authorized appropriations for specific buildings. Two public building corrrrissions--one for the District of Colurrbia and the other for the rest of the country--recorrrrended a new building prograrr which would base building location and size on a business approach rather than Congressional logrolling. The 1926 Act ordered the Treasury Departrrent to irrplerrent a "business considerations" policy in response to protests over unneeded projects that were rrerely a rreans for a Congressrran to win local favor. The standardization of plans for srra1l post offices was also carried forth frorr the policies of the Public Buildings Corrrrission's report of 1914. A survey report corrpleted under the direction of the 1926 Act identified over 2,300 towns and cities (with postal receipts over $10,000) that were without federal buildings. The estirrateJ cost of constructin~ these buildings was $170,420,000. The crash of 1929 and subsequent depression delayed the full irrplerrentation of the buildin0 prograrr outlinea in the 1926 Act. In 1930, Congress aut horized increased fundin0 for public buildin0 by arrending the 1926 Act. This legislation established a trend in public works projects that carre in direct response to the Depression. It served as a precedent for sub s equent policies and acts that would atterrpt to reduce unerrployrrent and stabilize the econorry. Standardization of buildings continued as a priority. The Treasury Departrrent produced a set of "cabinet sketches" which provided standard floor plans for various sized offices. Where practicable, individual treatrrent was given to exterior details. The irrpetus, however, was to reduce the nurr ber of individual drawings in order to achieve rapid construction. In 1933 the Treasury Departrrent was reorganized and the supervising architect's office placed within the Procurerrent Branch in tl!e Division of PubJ.ic Horks. The National. Industri a l Becovery Act (1933) created the Public Works Adrrinistration which was authorized to disburse funds to both federal and nonfederal agencies for construction projects i:hat would benefit the public. The intent of this and subsequent prograrrs was to aid econorric recovery. Efficiency, speedy construction, stirrulation of the econorry, and alleviation of unerrployrrent were the goals rather than to create architectural rronurrents to patriotic idealisrr. The buildings constructed under these prograrrs represented the shift of governrrent frorr "neutral arbiter" to "social welfare activist." During this era of public building, which essentially ended in 1942 with the shift of errphasis to l'mIl, over 1,800 post offices were constructed. Three tirres as trany post offices were constructed between 1930 and 1939, for exarrple, as in the previous 50 years. LOC.i\L NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF HELPER MAIN POST OFFICE T~m The year 1936 brought good news for Helper. On February 14 the Helper Journal reported that the coal b usiness was boorring and 3,000 rriners were at work. On March 13th cne paper announced that the new junior high school would soon be dedicated Ctnd a new $100,000 P~vA civic auditoriurf was being proposed. More progress was reported on April 17th with the news that Helper's post office was changing to second class status. The paper explained that the post office had fallen to third class in 1933 when starrp sales declined and the advancerrent to second class rrade Helper eligible for a fede ra l building. On June 26th the He Jper Journal announced " Hel per ~s ­ sured Federal Building in Hunlock Dispatc b. , Civic Clubs Aie1." Congressrran Murdock had recently recorrrrended that Helper have a federal building and the Charrber of Corrrrerc e and other civic clubs had also been active in seeking the bui10ing. "Building Bcorr Set for Helper" was the news on July 3[0, when t.Ile [0 U .OW in'] pro j eets we re c\e ~:c c 1. i ~)e(l : biO PF~ pro j eets ( the civic auditoriurr a nd a ITunicipal power plant), a street under pass pr oject, and the pust off ice (wh i ch was pro j ected to cost a round $80,000). On July 23rd it was reported that .Inves'C ,1SClX(:C, '" ,..,.., B l' t. E'S wer e " oe1 ng Lor 'Cne pas t o LIlce i on _I cco oe r 9t1! it was reported a site was stj ll be ing s ou ght (two railroad la n a sites favored by t he governrrent had b een judged to be too expe nsive). ~., n~·· At the e nd of 1936 the Helper Journal. l isted the ITany p roj ects t hat wo uld be corrplet~d in He lpe r in 1937 (t he y t: ot a lE.' cl approxiIT at:21 y $500;000): the civic au cl:i.toriurr (the taxpayers had overwhe l rringly app r oved t he fall bond election for it) I th e underpctss p rojec t , post off ice , two new churche s , a new depot, and n ew s ewe r s and aspha lt s treets (D ece~ber 23rd article ). The new ye ar of 1937 b ro u0ht continued good news fo r 3,500 ,1'(:'n ",0(2re e~21o.'/ ("(li_n tlle [rines (F ebruary 5th article); construction oftlj ;; unrJe rpD.ss began (I1 arch 12th article), a nd He l per applied for WPA as si sta nce for the street paving and wat erwo rks projects (M arc h 19th arti c le). On June 11t h the ~ournal reported "Fe de r al Building Plans Are Rushed" ; c ustody of t he post office s ite lla d be en given to Postrra s ter Eugene Gibson and ground clearing al ready started. The site cost $ 8 ,000 and i t was estirrated the entire project would cost $90,000. ~1 ;:·1.22r ~ On August 19 th it was repo~ted that the request for Federal building construction bid s would soon be advertised. The announcerrent that the contract has been a war ded t o Ne wst rorr & David of Den ver was rrad e by the Journ a l on Octo ber 14th. They had subrritted a wi nning bid of $4 4,8 50 a nd pl an ned to iITrr ed i ate ly COITITenc e construc t ion At the e nd of 1937 the Helper Journal r eviewed the town's great builcling boorr (Decerrber 30th article). The pa pe r noted that the un d erpass and au dit oriuIT had b ee n corrp l eted and predicted that one o f the rra j or irrproverrents in 1938 would b e t he const ruc ti r)Tl of the po ~:;t o ffi(~e ; y!hicb ·y'·7 (}S expected to start in February. On Februal-y 10, 1938 th e HeIDer Journ ~i l repo rt ed "Federal Buil ding Ta k ing Ta ngibl e Forrr"--the e xc avati on was corr p1eted, IrOS t of th e bcu::.,en'en t c one r et.e poured, an6 the brick laying would be0in in a few d a ys. An a r tic le of Ap ril 7t h reported that brick l a ying would be corr p l eted th at week and pr eclicteo t. l·l,3. -C tbe r)1J il (~ i n(] \" '()1..1}_ (~1 t)(~ (":OlTI)l.c\te cl 1,)~l J uJ ':i } .;:~.:~t ~ Ot her progress c ontinued in June when Helper re ceived a $51,000 PHA IJrant to iJrprove its rr un i cip a l \Yater sYE, i: elr (June 30th ar t icle). On August 11th t he paper reported that Helper citizens ha d app ro'.Je d c\ ~;6 3;O()O './(d-c"c bon cl to f u nd the rest of the $114,000 p r o jec t . The Helper Journal of August 25th featured a photog raph of the recently corrpleted federal building along with the news "Helper's New Post Offi ce Opens Monday." On October 20th the paper reported that dedication rites had just been held. Senator Thorras, Congo Murdock, and Mayor Spratling gave speeches, the Helper High School band played, and 300 people attended the event. Congo Murdock corrplirrented Helper's citizens for their far-sighted and aggressive attitude in working to irrprove the corrrrunity, and said "A public building of this kind is a public trust, ana is a rronurrent to the corrITunity designed to be served by it." The Helper Journal was -able to report ITore good news for the corrrrunity when, on June 29, 1939, it announced "He lper Post Office To Get Mural, Only One In Utah." The Sect i on of Fine Arts had announced a corrpetition for 48 rrurals, one for a post office in each state. It was noted that artists could cOITpete for a ITural depending on his knowledge and interest in the region in which the post office was loca ted . Helper's rrural was to be 5' x 12' and cost a rraxirrurr of $740. Mural painters throughout the area were invited to subrrit exarrples of their work. (Additional cultural developrrent occured in Helper in 1939 when the Helper CorrITunity Art Gallery was established with the aid of the WPA. The Gallery, a branch of the Utah State Art Center of Salt Lake City, held rronthly exhibitions of prorrising and established Utah artists.) On April 24, 1941 the JOllrna] published a photo of the new rrural along with the caption "Special Painting for Helper Post Office Hung Monday." Entitled "A Typical Western Town," the painting was executed by Jenne Magafan of Colorado Springs. The article corrrrented "It is believed by the artist that the painting will collect very little dirt and dust, even in as srrokey corrrrunity as this. But if it does, she pointed out, it rray be cleaned by running a loaf of soft white bread (sliced bread won't do) over the surface." 6. Conclusion and Recorrrrendation ••• of WPA-constructed structures within the state of Utah, and is identified as a contributing building to the flelper Corrrrercial District which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The building and the rrural which it contains represent the efforts of the Federal Gove rnrrent , through its public works and art prograrrs, to assi s t con'rrun ities during a period of econorric errergency. The ITural--a winner in the 48 states anonyrrous corrpetition held by the Fine Arts Section of the Public Works Adrrinistr a tion; F ~~o r ~l Works Agency--is one of only three post office rrur a l s in Utah. Through its visual presentation, the rrural relates the social history of the locality and represents a significant period and type of artistic expression. MAPS AND FLOOR PLANS . \. , . , 1 ,. ,. \ I o . \ . \. _e _. __ I _ . - . - ' - - - . - - \ ClUe. BeceiviD, FedQrally-CoDst:rncted Post Officca Pri or To WWII UTAH HISTORIC U.S. POST OFFICES IN UTAH 1900-1941 HELPER MAIN POST OFFICP. UT!·l I, , ~i~t~i. REFEP.E~CF 12/512560/4392780 I: ... GI., ( ( L t·. 1[( . ·7" ~ .{" .